10-16 March: We said, "see you next time" to Cathy and Max on Monday morning and headed north. It was a beautifully clear day, and there was perfect visibility for viewing the three main mountains of the island. Mt. Ruapehu, usually just called " the mountain", is majestic with its snow covered peaks. Mt. Ngauruhoe is a perfect cone shape. The rounded Mt. Tongariro has a famous track called the Tongariro Crossing. All are a photographers dream come true on a clea...

10-16 March:  We said, "see you next time" to Cathy and Max on Monday morning and headed north. It was a beautifully clear day, and there was perfect visibility for viewing the three main mountains of the island. Mt. Ruapehu, usually just called " the mountain", is majestic with its snow covered peaks. Mt. Ngauruhoe is a perfect cone shape. The rounded Mt. Tongariro has a famous track called the Tongariro Crossing. All are a photographers dream come true on ...

Week 1 Thursday December 10, 2009 After about 30 hours of elapsed time and a couple of delayed flights, we were greeted with sunshine and 70 degrees at the Auckland airport. As you can see, I have included before flight and after flight photos). After an hour of getting baggage and clearing customs (including the cute beagle who sniffed out the scent of an apple that had been in Buzz's backpack) we got our rental car and headed north to Red Beach and the custom...

Week 1Thursday December 10, 2009  After about 30 hours of elapsed time and a couple of delayed flights, we were greeted with sunshine and 70 degrees at the Auckland airport. As you can see, I have included before flight and after flight photos).   After an hour of getting baggage and clearing customs (including the cute beagle who sniffed out the scent of an apple that had been in Buzz's backpack) we got our rental car and headed north to Red Beach and the...

If you got this with a location of the Northern Mariana Islands near the Phillipines or the date of May 3, I apologize.l.a slip of the cursor!! Aotearoa (ah-o-tay-ah-roa), Maori for Land of the Long White Cloud, New Zealand. We arrived on January 2. The flight was excellent. The most impressive part of the plane trip was the sunrise over the Pacific. The clouds turning from white fluff balls to pink and the eastern sky becoming bright with the fireball of a new d...